14 Best Laptops for Travel in 2017

Picking a laptop to take with you when you travel can prove to be a tedious task. No doubt, the number one factor that you would want to consider is its affordability. Apart from that, you will need to balance a host of different features to be able to determine which one is the absolute best for you. Battery life, storage space/capacity, screen size, longevity, and portability are among the most crucial factors you need to take into consideration before arriving at a decision. It is usually impossible to find one that embraces all of these.

We, at VacationAdvice101, wish to make your life easier, so we have compiled a list of the 10 best laptops for travel. Check out the list below:

If you are more like the vagabond type but you still want to spend more time online than off to stay tuned to your favorite video or productive in the social media realm, this product from ASUS is optimized to suit your mobile lifestyle. It is amplified with Trusted Platform Module hardware security to ensure you peace of mind when you travel across the world or share your ASUS Chromebook among family members and friends, keeping your sensitive information well-protected. Its quadcore 1.8GHz Rockchip processor gives you more than enough power to browse through the net, play games online, or watch videos until the cows come home.

PROS:

Starts and loads up fast

13 hours of amazing battery life

Large touchpad

Stylish, enhanced keyboard (for typing accuracy and precision)

Lightweight

CONS:

Complaints about volume randomly acting up

VERDICT:

If you’re on the hunt for a great deal on a compact laptop with a decent battery life, we would definitely recommend this one from ASUS. The company has built an excellent reputation for manufacturing high-quality products, and this notebook, apparently, is no exception. It is famous for its very solid build especially for its price. If you may have otherwise thought of purchasing a Macbook Air, you should definitely give this Chromebook a good consideration.

The entire Chromebook category has evolved by leaps and bounds over time, with a handful of models raising up the prices to add one or a couple unique features. The 1-inch Acer Chromebook CB3-131-C3SZ guarantees clean, efficient stable performance with its 2GB memory and 16GB storage capacity. It features a nano-imprint patterning technology, giving it a unique look. Its smart design, style, fantastic battery life, and stylish color make it stand out from the rest.

PROS:

Superb build quality

Excellent ergonomics

Screen articulates well

Keyboard has a nice feel to it (feels like full size)

Power and volume buttons are in a perfect place

Bright, crisp display

Great value for money

CONS:

Trackpad bigger than some users are used to

Fastest setting is not convincingly fast enough ( you may have to lift you finger off of it to get to the other side of the screen)

Keyboard is not back-lit

Webcam tends to get stuck

Sloppy design

Between space bard and trackpad is made of a strip of plastic (when you press it down a bit harder, the whole middle part flexes)

VERDICT:

If you’re on a shoestring budget, this proves to be a great pick. You’re getting a lot for what you’ve spent for it. It may not be as tightly-put together as a table or a high-end laptop, but it sure feels very well constructed. It may not be the fastest or the most feature rich, but this laptop is a great deal considering its advantages.

3) Samsung Chromebook 3 XE500C13-K02US 4 GB RAM 16GB SSD 11.6″ Laptop

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen Size: 11.6 inches

Screen Resolution: 1366×768 pixels

Processor: 2.16 GHz Intel Celeron

RAM 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM

Memory Speed: 1600 MHz

Hard Drive 16 GB SSD

Graphics Coprocessor integrated_graphics

Chipset Brand Intel HD Graphics

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Number of USB 3.0 Ports 1

Average Battery Life (in hours) 11 hours

Item Weight: 2.54 lbs

The Samsung Chromebook 3 XE500C13-K02US is widely known for its durability, light weight, and versatility. It is a simple and comfortable tool, which is ideal for those who are not so tech savvy but still want to simplify their tasks online. Its sleekness is among its most striking features, which would definitely make you consider buying it to take with you on your trip.

CONS:

VERDICT:

If you’re looking for a laptop that can offer you much more than a mere browsing experience and cloud-based content creation, then the Samsung Chromebook 3 is not for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a modestly-priced option with better functionality, then this product is an appealing choice. This is recommended for people who need an efficient work horse without having to burn holes in their pocket. Because of its durability issue, however, we caution users to be careful to treat it with kid gloves as a large fall or hit would probably destroy it on the first occurrence.

4) HP 15-F222WM 15.6″ Touch Screen Laptop

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768

Processor: 2.16 GHz Pentium

RAM 4 GB SDRAM

Hard Drive 500 GB HDD 5400 rpm

Graphics Coprocessor integrated_graphics

Chipset Brand intel

Wireless Type 802.11bgn

Number of USB 2.0 Ports 1

Average Battery Life (in hours): 6 hours

Item Weight: 5 lbs

If you’re looking for an affordable, robustly-designed, beginner laptop that can provide with virtually everything that you need, this is one of your best bets. The 15-F222WM is equipped with a 2.16GHz Intel Pentium Quad Core N3540 processor, integrated Intel HD graphics, and 4GB system memory, which means reliable performance on your everyday tasks. Its 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 display makes a movie marathon on 720p resolution relaxing enough.

PROS:

Great quality

Fantastic DVD performance

Net browsing has no lagging issues

Plastic component makes it sleek and lightweight

Touchscreen works without any sensor issues

MS Office and emails work impeccably

Excellent battery life

Fast start up time

CONS:

Lack of FHD screen

Product can’t handle multitasking

It can run dead slow after extended use (Internet browsing will start to become a pain)

Keyboard doesn’t have a comfortable feel to it

Plastic layout makes it feel cheap

Seeking technical assistance is not free

Contains a lot of bloatware

Keyboard sensor under the letters tends to act up

Product filled with constant firmware updates

VERDICT:

The HP 15-F222 WM may not be what first comes across your mind when you think of a “dream computer,” but its modest price makes you put it on top of your list– more than anything else. It gets what you want done for far much less. It’s something that you can let your child can work and play with without you crying so much over, if it gets broken. HP should put more effort on improving its keyboard or getting rid of all the annoying firmware updates and bloatware. If you have limited budget, this comes as a decent find.

5) HP 14-an013nr 14-Inch Notebook

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen size: 14 inches

Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Processor: 1.8 GHz E2-7110

RAM 4 GB

Hard Drive 32 GB emmc

Chipset Brand AMD

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Number of USB 3.0 Ports 1

Item Weight: 3.9 lbs

Tackle all your daily tasks with an affordable laptop that comes packed with the features you need– HP;s 14-an013nr 14-Inch Notebook. It comes with Windows 10, so you’re sure to experience quick startups, an expanded, easy-to-use Start Menu, and innovative yet easy ways to get your stuff done. Given its dimensions (9.5. x 13.6 x 0.94 inches), compact is arguably the best word to describe this notebook.

PROS:

It’s like a chrome book but with more utility.

Easy to use (once you’ve adjusted the settings to your liking)

It starts up and wakes up instantly.

Screen is crisp and clear.

Sleek and not loaded with bloatware.

Replacement is small and lightweight.

CONS:

This is no where near ultrabook size/weight. Several complaints about its clunkiness.

Can be slow on complicated tasks

VERDICT:

HP really does have a great product here. This product has many features that are otherwise absent in other cheap laptops. Considering the stiff competition with Chromebooks, the HP 14-an013nr is recommended for those who need Windows and are on a tight budget. If your needs click both factors, then this product is definitely worth having on your list.

6) ASUS C100PA-DB02 10.1-inch Touch Chromebook Flip

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen Size: 10.1 inches

Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800

Processor: 1.8 GHz Rockchip RK3288

RAM 4 GB DDR3

Hard Drive 16 GB SSD

Chipset Brand ARM Mali

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Item Weight: 2 lbs

Make way for Amazon.com’s number one bestseller. You got one device with four ways to use it. This product is a touchscreen Chromebook featuring a 360-degree hinge that enables it to function in a variety of modes. From note taking to sharing and streaming videos with your friends and family members, the ASUS Chromebook C100 lets you communicate, share, and play in plenty of ways.

PROS:

Very reasonably priced for the quality of its build and performance

Powered by a Rockchip RK3288 processor that delivers superb performance

Battery life is outstanding with easily 8-10 hours of use between charges.

This unit allows you to run Windows apps remotely very easily; setting up is quick.

You can seamlessly switch it from tablet mode to keyboard mode, while windows can go full screen when you flip the keyboard backward.

It has an interesting handwriting recognition system for a better text input.

CONS:

Complaints about its screen quality (tends to develop a shadowy area and flashes whenever it’s in use)

VERDICT:

The ASUS Chromebook Flip (C100PA-DB02) sums up pretty much everything you might love about the Chrome-OS family. It’s inexpensive, Rockchip-powered, extremely simple– add to that an all-day battery life and affordable price. Those plus a 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen display and a sleek, convertible form give you not many reasons left to look for other options.

7) Acer Chromebook R 13 Convertible

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen size: 13.3 inches

Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Processor: 2.1 GHz MediaTek_MT8127

RAM 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM

Hard Drive 32 GB

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Number of USB 3.0 Ports 1

Average Battery Life (in hours) 12 hours

Item Weight: 3.28 lbs

The Acer Chromebook R13 is purposely made for people who are always on the go. This 360-degree 13-inch convertible Chromebook is empowered with a host of Android apps– all to enable you to play, work, and do everything fun in between. Because it is fan-less, it is sleek, light, silent, and dust-free. No need to worry about hot-air exhaust.

PROS:

Touchpad is very smooth and highly responsive (fits perfectly into the base)

Very attractive laptop (with its metal construction)

Ports and plugs work well ( as do the side-mounted volume and power buttons)

Speakers sound great (comes with a side/bottom firing configuration

Excellent sound quality (crisp and not too loud)

CONS:

Gets shaky while it updates itself, syncs your account data, and installs your apps/extensions (especially if you already had another Chromebook).

It runs quite slow when you start browsing, load pages, and build up your cache.

VERDICT:

For a 13” convertible this computer is BIG and HEAVY. it’s practically a 14” laptop with a 13” display. Don’t expect it to scream right off the bat. This could have been a much better Chromebook with only a few small tweaks: mainly the size and the weight. Especially considering that it is meant to be used as a tablet from time to time, you would wish Acer would have done a bit more work on the keyboard or at least included a backlight.

8) HP Stream Laptop PC 14-ax010nr

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen size: 14 inches

Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels

Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron

RAM 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM

Hard Drive 32 GB emmc

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Number of USB 3.0 Ports 2

Item Weight: 3.17 lbs

Stay completely connected and always productive. This laptop promises to give you the essential productivity you need without slowing down. It boasts complete security. This stylish notebook allows you to work and marathon your favorite movies with ultimate ease.

PROS:

CONS:

Trackpad feels spongier than prior iterations

VERDICT:

This is not a performance machine. It’s good enough to run Windows and many basic apps to get the job done but not much more than that. Notwithstanding, this is a good deal for those looking for a cheap PC – especially now that it has double the RAM for the same price as last year’s model. You just cannot expect too much out of it.

Notable in every way– from its souped-up performance to its spacious display– the affordable HP Notebook 15 is set to be your go-to laptop. It combines a 7th Gen Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB of memory and a huge 1TB hard drive for excellent multitasking and multimedia capabilities. The Notebook 15 delivers great portability, too, with a weight that’s just 4.6 pounds and slim profile under an inch thin.

CONS:

Almost everything in this notebook is plastic, even the track pad, which is incorporated into the case.

Mouse keys are harder to press than they should be. It takes a bit of extra firmness to click them.

VERDICT:

HP’s signature edition simply means the Flagship is clear of any junkware, which you may need to get rid of so you can run things smoothly in your computer. For its price point, this machine has captured the confidence of fits users, given its very modern specs, good connectivity, responsive touchscreen and decent image quality. If you’re on a budget, we recommend this great-value computer.

10) Dell Inspiron 13.3 inch 2-in-1 i7 7000

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen size: 13.3 inches

Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Processor: 2.5 GHz Core i7 6500U

RAM 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM

Memory Speed 1600 MHz

Hard Drive 256 GB Solid State Drive

Graphics Coprocessor Intel HD Integrated Graphics

Chipset Brand Intel

Wireless Type 802.11 A/C

Number of USB 2.0 Ports 1

Number of USB 3.0 Ports 3

Average Battery Life (in hours) 6 hours

Item Weight: 3.66 lbs

Vibrant display, ultimate versatility, sleek style, optimum performance, among many other great features– there’s a lot to look forward to with the Dell Inspiron 13.3-inch laptop. Dell wants its users to love their computer for the years to come; thus, they test their products, such as this, for absolute reliability.

PROS:

Lightweight

High-quality components

Great screen resolution

Amazing speed (makes easy multitasking possible)

Decent-sized SSD drive (not super generous, but by any means, it’s still a winner compared to $1,000-dollar laptops)

CONS:

WiFi issues have been reported by certain reviewers on this product.

Its headphone jack sounded a little less clear, and may need some getting used to.

VERDICT:

This may NOT be a sexy thin-and-light, in any way, but its functionality is something you just cannot brush off. If you’re crazy about appearance, this is not the computer for you. Yet, for the price you pay, you get the latest version of the core i7 processor, which is really fast and efficient. No room for complaints right there.

HP’s newly-unveiled innovation, the Envy x360 is a high-end, high performance 15-inch laptop that’s geared towards consumers who want a sizable screen and relatively superb performance wrapped in a svelte package. It features a similar CNC-milled aluminium chassis and a 10-point touch IPS panel, which switches the gadget to tablet mode. It’s considerably light given its sheer size, so you can take it with you on your jaunts.

PROS:

Slick laptop-to-tablet conversion

Glossy, glass-topped display gives it a modern look

Wide trackpad provides more room for your fingers to move around in

Intuitive button placement

Versatile performance

CONS:

Short battery life

Screen pixelation is pretty obvious

Screen doesn’t go bright enough to be taken outdoors on a bright, sunny day

Not very portable

Trackpad surface isn’t entirely smooth.

VERDICT:

HP’s Envy family is where you can get laptops that are neither very cheap nor very expensive. Its Envy x360 does provide a comfy middle ground for any consumer searching for a laptop that falls under that category. The Envy x360 is no amazing gaming machine. But you can get a better chance of making it so by fiddling around with its graphics settings a little bit. However, we still don’t recommend it if you want a true gaming laptop. If you already have a desktop for most of your real tasks and simply want a travel convertible that’s fairly sleek and light, has a large screen and that has a decent battery life, this is worth a good look.

12) ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360CA-DBM2T 13.3 – inch Touchscreen Laptop

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Screen size: 13.3 inches

Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Processor: 0.9 GHz Core M 6Y30

RAM 8 GB LPDDR3-SDRAM

Memory Speed: 1866 MHz

Hard Drive 512 GB 512 GB Solid State Drive

Item Weight: 2.9 lbs

Looks could definitely deceive– that has been proven by the Asus ZenBook UX360CA. Beneath its ultra-thin body is an Intel Skylake Core M3 Processor, which screams incredible speed and amazing responsiveness. That means everything, from starting up to loading up even demanding programs, are lightning quick. Its laser-edged, concentric circle pattern and aluminium unibody adds form to its sheer functionality, making it ideal to take with you wherever you go.

CONS:

Keyboard is not back-lit.

VERDICT:

This newly-launched laptop from Asus manages to be really sleek, which is something many consumers may be delighted to see. At first glance, it mirrors the design of its high-end, expensive contemporaries from the same manufacturer, especially those that are much thinner than the MacBook Air and are powered by Intel’s high-end Core M-series processors. If you are looking for a convertible notebook that has moderate specs and is relatively less expensive, this product is definitely worth a thought.

The Toshiba Satellite Fusion makes for a highly versatile PC– a tablet, laptop, and everything in between. It features a 360-degree hinge, which offers five different modes to view its screen: tablet, tabletop, audience, presentation, or laptop. Its Windows 10- ready, which means you savvy ways to create new desktops, snap apps in place, and work and play across all your devices even simultaneously. Its 15.6-inch diagonal display boasts IPS technology, which delivers a razor-sharp, brilliantly-colored pictures.

PROS:

Sleek and lightweight

Superior sound quality

Comfortable, backlit keyboard (clicking is almost inaudible)

Black and silver exterior gives it an upscale look

Screen has limited viewing angles

Keys have an engaging feel

Display has an overall great picture– plentiful contrast

CONS:

Poor build quality (chassis flexes with little effort)

Fan gives off a slight whine

Average battery life

Produces blinding reflections when used outdoors

VERDICT:

Like we did, you would enjoy most of the major aspects of this notebook, such as its outstanding display, quality speakers, and comfortable keyboard. However, you would wish its build quality and battery life would be significantly enhanced. You would hope to see a considerably sturdier chassis and a more protected lid. This notebook is worth a consideration, as long as it is treated with care and not casually tossed around. While the Fusion 15 makes no practical replacement for a tablet, its convertible abilities have undeniable advantages.

The 2017 Newest Samsung 15.6” Notebook 7 is the company’s way of rolling out a new media-friendly convertible laptop to partner with you in your binge watching. It features a 1080p touch display, boasting a high-dynamic range mode that promises sharper pictures and richer colors for your favorite movies and TV shows. Under its hood comes a a 1-terabyte hard drive and Skylake Core i5 or i7 processor to contain all those videos.

PROS:

Smooth metal casing makes it look discreet.

Can handle video and photo editing

Starts up and wakes up fast

Full-sized, back-lit, and roomy keyboard

Keys feel springy and comfortable

CONS:

Its size and weight make carrying it unwieldy.

Trackpad feels misaligned (off-center to the left)

Not ideal to be used as a tablet

Sub par battery life

VERDICT:

The Samsung Notebook 7 makes an excellent laptop for home use and watching video, but it isn’t cut out to meet everyone’s needs. It’s got a lot of oomph to it, but it isn’t meant for hardcore (on-the-go) gamers. Just as Samsung has made a foray into manufacturing super sleek notebooks, it has instead swerved into making a 15-inch workhorse of a laptop that wouldn’t catch your attention unless someone dropped it on your feet– and only then you would notice it because it’s utterly heavy. Even with its relatively boring appearance, this laptop is not a bad one. It would be safe to say it’s actually the Camry of 15-inch laptops; you will get far with it, but you will not turn heads with it along the way.